SHUI-BIAN'S NEW YEAR'S ADDRESS
Summary: January 2, the Chinese-language "United Daily
News" carried straight news coverage of President Chen
Shui-bian's New Year's address, in which Chen called
for the establishment of a Committee for Cross-Strait
Peace and Development. Full-text translation of the
editorial follows.
"Chen Says in the New Year's Address: Form a Committee
for Cross-Strait Peace and Development. [Chen Vows to]
Push for an Interactive Framework for Peace, Urging
Beijing Not to Neglect Taiwan People's Determination to
Defend the Republic of China"
Journalist Liu Pao-chieh said in the conservative, pro-
unification "United Daily News" (1/2):
"President Chen Shui-bian said Saturday in his New
Year's address that [Taiwan] will adopt an unhurried
attitude of being `steady and progressing, stable but
not hasty' to steadily form a `Committee for Cross-
Strait Peace and Development,' to consolidate Taiwan's
internal consensus, and to actively push for as well as
establish an interactive framework for cross-Strait
peace and stability.
"President Chen Saturday delivered his New Year's
greetings entitled `Open a Stable New Era of
Negotiations and Dialogue.' He urged Beijing not to
neglect the firm resolution of the Taiwan people to
defend the sovereignty, security, and dignity of the
Republic of China. The long-term development of peace
across the Taiwan Strait should be a common hope shared
by both sides of the Taiwan Strait and is in accordance
with the expectations of the international community.
"President Chen said in the future, he will
continuously stick to the policy route of `standing on
a firm position and moving forward in a pragmatic
manner' to deal with cross-Strait relations. He will
insist on `keeping the ambition, and not messing up
with the sequence' even when facing China's unilateral
and radical behaviors, Chen said.
"President Chen pointed out that in the past four
years, he has extended olive branches to China numerous
times and has actively sought [to form] a new basis for
both sides of the Taiwan Strait to resume negotiations
and dialogue. Even in his inaugural speech delivered
May 20, 2004, his National Day speech, and a meeting
with the high-ranking national security officials
November 10, 2004, Chen has repeatedly expressed
sincerity and good will gestures to push for the
normalization of cross-Strait relations. However, Chen
said, it is very regrettable that China still does not
abandon military threats, and it even persistently
oppresses Taiwan using all means it can and speaks
viciously toward Taiwan.
"President Chen said China unilaterally attempted to
play the role as an arbitrator and punisher regarding
cross-Strait issues and to make up a so-called `legal
basis' for its use of force against Taiwan. Such moves
will not only unilaterally change the peaceful status
quo in the Taiwan Strait but will also impose the
biggest threat to regional stability and world peace.
"In his speech, President Chen showed his appreciation
to several international allies, including the United
States and Japan, for their long-standing support of
Taiwan people and concern for peace in the Taiwan
Strait. Chen said the friendships that Taiwan has
established in the international community are based on
not only alliance of the values of freedom, democracy,
and human rights, but also long-term cooperative
relationships and mutual understanding.
"President Chen pointed out that under strong pressure
from China, Taiwan's diplomatic efforts are facing
extreme difficulties. Some tasks can be done but are
better kept quiet, and Taiwan sometimes even has to
endure humiliation and bear the heavy load. Other
people can surely make criticisms and comments [about
Taiwan], but they should not distort or even denigrate
Taiwan's relationships with other allies using
groundless speculations."
PAAL

Raw content

UNCLAS TAIPEI 000004
SIPDIS
DEPARTMENT FOR INR/R/MR, EAP/RSP/TC, EAP/PA, EAP/PD -
ROBERT PALLADINO
DEPARTMENT PASS AIT/WASHINGTON
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL, KPAO, TW, Domestic Politics
SUBJECT: "UNITED DAILY NEWS" COVERAGE OF PRESIDENT CHEN
SHUI-BIAN'S NEW YEAR'S ADDRESS
Summary: January 2, the Chinese-language "United Daily
News" carried straight news coverage of President Chen
Shui-bian's New Year's address, in which Chen called
for the establishment of a Committee for Cross-Strait
Peace and Development. Full-text translation of the
editorial follows.
"Chen Says in the New Year's Address: Form a Committee
for Cross-Strait Peace and Development. [Chen Vows to]
Push for an Interactive Framework for Peace, Urging
Beijing Not to Neglect Taiwan People's Determination to
Defend the Republic of China"
Journalist Liu Pao-chieh said in the conservative, pro-
unification "United Daily News" (1/2):
"President Chen Shui-bian said Saturday in his New
Year's address that [Taiwan] will adopt an unhurried
attitude of being `steady and progressing, stable but
not hasty' to steadily form a `Committee for Cross-
Strait Peace and Development,' to consolidate Taiwan's
internal consensus, and to actively push for as well as
establish an interactive framework for cross-Strait
peace and stability.
"President Chen Saturday delivered his New Year's
greetings entitled `Open a Stable New Era of
Negotiations and Dialogue.' He urged Beijing not to
neglect the firm resolution of the Taiwan people to
defend the sovereignty, security, and dignity of the
Republic of China. The long-term development of peace
across the Taiwan Strait should be a common hope shared
by both sides of the Taiwan Strait and is in accordance
with the expectations of the international community.
"President Chen said in the future, he will
continuously stick to the policy route of `standing on
a firm position and moving forward in a pragmatic
manner' to deal with cross-Strait relations. He will
insist on `keeping the ambition, and not messing up
with the sequence' even when facing China's unilateral
and radical behaviors, Chen said.
"President Chen pointed out that in the past four
years, he has extended olive branches to China numerous
times and has actively sought [to form] a new basis for
both sides of the Taiwan Strait to resume negotiations
and dialogue. Even in his inaugural speech delivered
May 20, 2004, his National Day speech, and a meeting
with the high-ranking national security officials
November 10, 2004, Chen has repeatedly expressed
sincerity and good will gestures to push for the
normalization of cross-Strait relations. However, Chen
said, it is very regrettable that China still does not
abandon military threats, and it even persistently
oppresses Taiwan using all means it can and speaks
viciously toward Taiwan.
"President Chen said China unilaterally attempted to
play the role as an arbitrator and punisher regarding
cross-Strait issues and to make up a so-called `legal
basis' for its use of force against Taiwan. Such moves
will not only unilaterally change the peaceful status
quo in the Taiwan Strait but will also impose the
biggest threat to regional stability and world peace.
"In his speech, President Chen showed his appreciation
to several international allies, including the United
States and Japan, for their long-standing support of
Taiwan people and concern for peace in the Taiwan
Strait. Chen said the friendships that Taiwan has
established in the international community are based on
not only alliance of the values of freedom, democracy,
and human rights, but also long-term cooperative
relationships and mutual understanding.
"President Chen pointed out that under strong pressure
from China, Taiwan's diplomatic efforts are facing
extreme difficulties. Some tasks can be done but are
better kept quiet, and Taiwan sometimes even has to
endure humiliation and bear the heavy load. Other
people can surely make criticisms and comments [about
Taiwan], but they should not distort or even denigrate
Taiwan's relationships with other allies using
groundless speculations."
PAAL

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